The use of metal detecting devices by the general public and the resultant plundering of archaeological sites is still one of the most painful issues in Czech archaeology. No simple or satisfactory solutions have been found. The aim of this paper is to objectively summarise the last 25 years of unrestricted use of metal detectors in the Czech Republic and its impact on the archaeological component of cultural heritage and on archaeology itself. The paper presents a quantitative model of metal detecting activities sourced from the available data. The results are employed to illustrate the effect of metal detecting activities on archaeological knowledge and to outline some related theoretical and methodological questions., Aleš Navrátil., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Tabulová hora hillfort plays a prominent role in the landscape of the South Moravia region. The excavation in 50’s brought basic information about the wall construction. At the beginning of the 21st century rumours about illegal metal detecting activities started to spread. According to this rumours a significant number of Bronze Age hoards as well as exclusive items were illegally excavated. This sparked a new wave of professional interest leading to a series of archaeological non-destructive activities on the site. The aim of this study is to present new results of defence system survey as well as geomagnetic survey of particular hillfort sections. The results are confronted with the data coming from the past excavations. A discussion on the role of hillforts in the Urnfield society follows.
Looting of archeological sites using metal detectors poses the greatest problem for contemporary archeology. The scale of the resulting damage often lies beyond our imagination. This study brings to attention three new bronze hoards looted from “Tabulová hora” site, which were revealed to archeologists at the Regional Museum of Mikulov. These hoards together with unofficial information from looters themselves, and other such known cases, testify to the dramatic differences between the “known” and the “unknown” in the world of archeological metal artefacts. This paper suggests, that the estimate of about one hundred hoards looted from “Tabulová hora”, may not to be unrealistic., Aleš Navrátil., and Obsahuje seznam literatury